Upholstering device



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

P. R.- BACON.

UPHOLSTERING DEVICE.

No. 592,270. Patented Oct. 26,1897.

Witnassas: lnuantor,

' (NoMode1.)-

with ssezs:

5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

1-". R. BACON.

UPHOLSTBRING DEVICE.

Patented 001;. 26, 1897.

, Es I (No Model.)- 1 5 Sheets-Sheeb 3-.

F. R. BACON.

UPHOLSTERING DEVICE.

No. 592,270; Patented Oct. 26,1897.

WitFlSS6SI V Inuantor,

(No Model.) 5 sheets-sheet 4.

P. R. BACON.

UPHOLSTERING' DEVICE.

No. 592,270. Patented Oct. 26,1897.

Q/Mi--- (No Model.) 5 Sheets- Sheet 5.

.'P. R. BACON. UPHOLSTERING DEVICE.

No. 592,270. r Patented Oct. 26,1897.

Y a E Witn Sass; l Inuezntor,

UNITED STATESYPATENT Prion.

FRANK R. BACON, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE MICHIGAN BUGGY COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

UPHOLSTERING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 592,270, dated October 26, 1897. Application filed October 12, 1895- Saris-1N0. 565,466. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern: placed on the back of the cushion. Fig. 7 is Be it known that I, FRANK R. BACON, a eitia perspective view of the casing in which the zen of the United States, residing at the city forms are guided. Fig. 8 is aform for supof Kalamazoo, in the county of Kalamazoo porting pegs against the buttons to hold'them 55 and State of Michigan, have invented a cerin place while they are being clenched at the tain new and useful Upholstering Device, of back and to drive them to position. Fig. 9 which the following is a specification. is a sectional view through the formsin oper- Myinvention relates to improvements in ,upation on a line corresponding to 9 9' of Fig. 4. holstering devices, and especially to uphol- Fig. 10 is a sectional view similar to that in 1o stering devices or machines forforming car- Fig. 9, showing the parts clamped together riage-seat cushions, carriage seat backs, and for thepurpose of clenching the buttons, fastsimilar cushions, and relates in' part' to im ening the edge of the cushion, and trimming :provements on United States Patent No. and finishing the same. Fig.11 is an enlarged 511,649, issued December 26,1893, to Henry detail perspective View of one of the clothes- 15 B. Pitner. g pins or instruments for holding the fabric or The objects of my invention are, first, to covering on the form J. Fig. 12 is ascctional provide a machine so constructed that a sin- View on line 12 12 of Fig. 11, looking down. gle operative can operate it successfully; sec- Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail perspective view 0nd, to provide improved means of locating of one of theinner tubes and springs for secur- 7o 20 and fixing the cloth, leather, or other fabric ing and guiding the buttons properlyin place which forms the cover of the cushionftoform within the irregular tubes. the sections or biscuitsfthird, to provide a Similar letters of reference refer to similar construction in which the'various parts of the parts throughout the several views. machine are supported properly and securely Referring to the lettered parts of the draw- 7 5 2 5 on forms in such a manner that a large numings, A A represent the main end standards ber of operations canbe performed at one and to my machine the same time for shortening the time required B is a heavy cross-beam connecting the in the manufacture; fourth, to provide imtops together. proved means of inserting and locating the B is a lower cross-beam supported inside 3o buttons in said cushions';' fifth, to provide an the main standards on suitable block-supimproved press and accompanyingapparatus ports. A truss-rod a passes under the strut for use in such devices, and other objeotsapc on the under side of the beam B. Rods g pearing in the detailed description. I accomsecurely connect the .upper and lower beams plish these objects of my invention by the detogether at each end. At each side of the 3 5 vices and means shown in the accompanying beam B are upwardly-projecting plank-supdrawings, in which-- ports C. Across the top of these supports Figure 1 is a front elevation of the main 0 extends a plank 0, having a general outportion of my machine, a part of the guidingline of the cushion to be formed. A casing casing being broken away to show some of the E encircles the plank O and is adapted to 0 40 forms therein. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on pass up and down over the same. Within line 2 2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the casing E the forms are placed upon the the little arrows at the end of the section-line, machine, as hereinafter will be described. the casing E being omitted. Fig. 3 is a detail Suitable weights I are at each end of the matop plan view of the central form-supporting chine and are connected to counterbalance 5 45 portion of the main frame. Fig. 4 is a form the casing E by the cords f, passing over the I for conforming the toplof the cushion, bearing pulleys h h toward each end. The cords, f upwardly-projecting irregular tubes m, for are detachably attached to the casing E by the insertion of the buttons. Fig. 5 is a perthe hooks e in the rings 61 on the ends of the spective View of a form with perforating-pins casing E. Suitable shelves tat each end of the .50 thereon. Fig. 6 is the female form, corremachine formstop-supports for the weights 1, sponding to the form in Figs. 4, 5, &c., to be which prevent the raising of the casing tco high. Through the top beam B extends a large screw F, operated by the hand-wheel F. On the lower end of this screw is a crosshead G, which is adapted to press the forms hereinafter described together by pressing them against the plank-plate C, the forms being suitably guided by the casing E. The casing E is suitably guided to place by the guides 7t on the top of the plank C. \Vings D D and D D are hinged to each side of the plank-supports C and are adapted to fold to a position parallel with the sides of the plank plate C, the upper edges of the wings being on a level with the plank-plate C. These wings serve as strong positive supports for the casing E when it is in its elevated position, and they can be folded together to allow the casing to pass down over the plankplate 0.

J represents a suitable form for forming the exterior of the cushion and for locating the cover of the same. Irregular tubes m, also called tucking devices, project upwardly therefrom to locate each button in the cushion and to form the divisions of the cushion. The form itself is suitably rounded between the tubes m to shape the sections of cushions. Around the exterior of the forms J are suitable notches n to accommodate the folding of the material of the cushion-cover between the sections or biscuits. \Vithin each tube m is an auxiliary tube N, having three inwardly-curved spring portions N, which project well up toward the tops of the tubes m. These are, in general terms, the supports and guides for the buttons or nails of the cushion.

Plate K, corresponding in size to the form J, bears suitable upwardly-prejecting sharppointed steel pins L, located thereon in the same relative position as the irregular tubes m 011 form J. Notches K are cut into the form K to permit a clamping of the forms beyond it, so that the form K can be removed. The pins L are adapted to project upwardly through the tubes m for the purposes which will hereinafter be explained. For each irregular tube on there is a sort of multiple clothes-pin or instrument M, having prongs 0' adapted to engage in the irregular notches of the tubes on for clamping the cloth of the cushions in place, as will be readily seen in Figs. 11 and 12. The instruments themselves are shown in position without the cloth in the figures. A form P with notches P to correspond to the notches K in form K and for the same purpose bears u pwardly-proj eetin g pegs 1, which in general terms are nail-followers for forcing the buttons or nails of the cushion to position and holding them to the back of the cushion where they can be clenched. A form II contains apertures II, corresponding to the tubes m and pins L and pegs P. Around the outer edge of this form H is a steel or iron rim II for clenching the tacks, which are used to bind the outer edge of the cushion.

Having thus enumerated all of the parts of my improved upholstering device or machine, Iwill point out their uses and operation. To construct a cushion, form J is placed upon form K so that the points of the pins Ti project upwardly through the irregular tubes m. The cushion-cover, whether of leather, cloth, or other fabric, is first perforated wherever a button should be located upon it, and it is then placed over the form J, the perforation being placed over the sharp points of the pins L to locate them. The fabric is then secured in place by the clothes-pins or instruments M grasping the cushion-cover tight against the irregular tubes m. This puckers the cushion-cover at the right points for forming the sections or biscuits of the cushion. The covering is folded over the edge of the form J the folds or plates coming in the notches a n, around the outside of the same. The two forms together are then placed upon the plate 0 of the press, as indicated in Fig. 1, and the padding, consisting of curled hair, or waste cotton, or other material, is placed upon the cushion-covering between the upwardly-projecting pins M and is evenly distributed over the same to form a cushion of the thickness desired. lVhen this is done, the pins M are removed and the cushion-back Z is laid upon the top of the casing E, it fitting between the guide-stops t 25 t on the top side of the same which locate it. lVhen this is done, the form H is placed upon the back of the cushion Z and the cross-head G turned down upon it. The wings D D and D D are folded together to allow the casing E to pass downward. The weights I hold the casin g h upwardly against the form II, and the screw F is turned down and compresses theform II onto the cushion and padding until the back is closed against the ends of the irregular tubes m. This forces the points of the pins L through the back of the cushion Z, forming holes for the insertion of the buttons. The weights I are then detached from the casing E, and it is allowed to drop down and rest upon the beam B, and suitable hand-clamps are then placed upon the forms J and II to clamp them together, the noses of the clamps being put in the notches K of the form K to allow it to be removed. The forms 11 and J being clamped together are then removed to a suitable table or bench, where the edges of the cushion are tacked down, the tacks clenching on the rim II. After the edge of the cushion is secured the usual clench-buttons are inserted into the irregular tubes m from the outside, the springs N within the same centering the buttons, causing the points thereof to pass through the perforations in the backs of the cushions and pass securely to place. The buttons are crowded to place by placing the form P, with the pegs I thereon, to the top of the cushion and crowding it (the cushion) down, which forces the pegs l to the position indicated in Fig. 10. In this position the buttons are clenched, the forms J and II are unclainped, and the cushion is completed.

The forms with pins, tubes, and pegs thereon, as I have shown, can be used independently of the'press, although the press is specially adapted for use in connection with the tion of the frame composed of the uprights A, A, and the cross-beams B, B, connected together by bolts 9, plate 0, supported on suitable supports C, on beam 13' wings D, D, D, D, hinged to said supports 0, and adapted to operate on a level with the top of said plate 0; casing E, adapted to move up and down over the plate 0 and wings D, D, D, D; weights 1, I, to each end of said frame; cords f, to pass over suitable pulleys and connected to said Weights and detachably attached to the casing E, by'hooks e, in rings d, a screw f, through the top beam 13, operated by handwheel F; cross-head G, onthe lower end of said screw; and suit-able forms for inserting in said casing to be pressed between the crosshead G, and the plate C, all substantially as described for the purpose specified.

2. In an upholstering-machine the combination of a suitable press-frame; upwardlyprojecting supports O,with the plate 0, across the top thereof; the casingE, adapted to move up and down over said plate; wings D, D, and D, D, hinged to said supports and adapted to swing outwardly to support the movable casing; counterbalance-weights attached to said casing to raise the same normally against the upper press-plate and suitable forms for insertion in said casing; press-plate, or form,

II, and suitable means for actuating the same; for the purpose specified.

3. In an upholstering-machine the combination of a suitable press-frame; upwardlyprojecting supports O,with the plate 0, across the top thereof; press-plate, or form, H, above with means of operating the same; the easing E, adapted to .move up and down over,

said plate; counterbalance-weights attached to said casing to raise the same normally against the upper press-plate; and suitable forms for insertion in said casing for the purpose specified.

4. In an upholstering-machine the combination of a suitable pressframe; upwardlyprojecting supports O,with the plate 0, across the top thereof; a press-plate or form, H, above with means for operating the same; the easing E, adapted to move up and down over said plate 0; wings D, D, and D, D, hinged to said supports and adapted to swing out wardly to support the movable casing; and

suitable forms for insertion in said casin g for the purpose specified.

5. In an upholstering device the combination of the form J, with upwardly-projecting irregular tubes m thereon central tubes N, with inwardly-curved springs N, within each tube m; a form K, with upwardly-projecting sharp-pointed steel pins L, corresponding to the irregular tubes 1%, 011 the form J, and

adapted to project through the same for 10- cating the cover of the cushion properly on the form J; suitable clothes-pins or instruments'M, for retaining the cloth securely on the irregular tubes m, a casing E, adapted to slip over the forms J, and K, and project above the same; a form H, with metal rim Hf, around the same containing apertures H, corresponding to the irregular tubes m, on the form J, adapted to be placed over the back of the cushion; and a suitable press for compressing the forms J, K, and H, together (after the cushion material has been placed upon the cover and the pins M, removed) to puncture the back for receiving the buttons and to afford the opportunity for securing the edge of the cushion; and a suitable form P,

.with e s P, thereon for forcin the buttons through the tube m, and through the back of the cushion all coacting together for the purpose specified.

6. In an upholstering device of the class described the combination of the form J, with upwardly-projecting tubes thereon; a form K, with upwardly-projecting sharp-pointed steelpins L, to project upwardly through the tubes on the form J, to locate the cushioncover securely in place; suitable means of fastening the cover to the upwardly-projecting tubes; and a press to compress the front and back of the cushion together after the cushioning material has been inserted and to force the sharp points of the pins through the backs for the purpose of attaching the buttons and locating them positively in place for the purpose specified.

7. In' an upholstering device of the class described the combination of a form J; with upwardly-projecting tubes thereon for the formation of the cushion; inwardly-curved springs N, supported within said tubes as a guide for the buttons; the form P, with the pegs P, thereon for crowding said buttons to position simultaneously for clenching the buttons for the purpose specified.

8. In an upholstering device of the class described the combination of the form J, with upwardly-projecting tubes thereon for the formation of the cushion; and inwardlycurved springs N, Within said tubes to guide the buttons to place for the purpose specified.

tion of a bottom having projecting hollow tucking devices, a correspondingly-perforated top, a nail-support having nail-followers, and means whereby the nails are supported in their proper position on said followers when they are simultaneously forced up through the bottom and tucking devices substantially as set forth.

11. In an upholstering device, the combination of a bottom having projecting hollow tucking devices, a correspondingly-perforated top, nail-supports having nail-fo1lowers, and guides whereby the nails are held against displacement while being forced simultaneously up through the bottom and tucking devices substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof Ihavc hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK R. BACON. \Vitnesses:

M. HENRY LANE, W. F. CowLBEoK. 

